National sales of cask ale are set to grow for the first time in over ten years, according to a new industry report, “The Intelligent Choice”, written by beer writer and marketing consultant Pete Brown.

Brown points the finger of blame for the years of decline squarely at the big four national brewers and their failure to invest in big cask brands such as Bass, Tetley’s and Worthington’s. This decline of the nationals will bottom out in the next few years with the growth of the regional and local brewers continuing unabated.

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New research by him! questioned 5,500 customers outside a range of pubs and asked them about their experience.

Only 10% of visits are by families and only 2% were for occasions like anniversaries or birthdays. Just 1% purchased a children’s meal.

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According to CAMRA, more than 6 out of 10 beer lovers think that today’s pubs are better than those in the 1970’s.

However, according to research carried out for the launch of the 35th Good Beer Guide – which is published today – only 53 per cent of those who could legally drink in 1974, thought that today’s pubs were better. Out of the minority who preferred things in the 1970s, 45 per cent believe that pubs of that era felt “more like a local”. Of those that enjoy today’s pubs more, the smoking ban was cited as their main reason for doing so. Continue reading »